Flag and flagstaff assembly



Sept. 25, 1956 w. M. lRVlN FLAG AND FLAGSTAFF ASSEMBLY Filed March 18, 1954 INVENTOR WARD M. IQVIN nited States Patent FLAG AND FLAGSTAFF ASSEMBLY Ward M. Irvin, Battle Creek, Mich., assignor to Roger W. OConnor, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 18, 1954, Serial No. 417 ,095 6 Claims. (Cl. 116-173) The present invention deals broadly with flags and mounting means for same and, in its specific phases, to golf course flags and funeral flags with the special form of support for same.

In use, most flags used outdoors utilize air to hold them in extended position where, under the influence of wind, they flutter and snap with continuous wearing out of the free edge of the flag and the gradual shortening of same as wear occurs. In connection with golf course flags, they normally droop so that the number cannot be seen except when the wind is blowing, and in the latter case the snapping of the flag not only wears it out but produces a distracting noise, interfering with the best playing of golf. Funeral flags, on the other hand, are subjected to air flow under conditions of use which not only rapidly wears out ordinary flags but produces a suflicient pull on same to cause some of the flags to break or drop off in the course of use. Several attempts have been made to avoid that situation, such as by using a wavy shaped wire over which the flag is threaded and held in outwardly standing serpentine position. This is un satisfactory for funeral flag use since the serpentine form presents a relatively wide body portion which causes excessive drag under forward motion of the automobile carrying same. Another proposed procedure has been to completely encase the flag in a serpentine plastic housing, which not only presents the relatively wide body portion but is an expensive thing not thoroughly suited for golf course or funeral flag use. Various types of holders have been made for funeral flags, with some of them hooking into the automobile window, onto the door, front fender or the like, and even onto the rain gutter with a plastic Wind spreader straddling the flag mast and theoretically diverting the wind sidewise from the flag in order to reduce its flapping, but which presents the wider body portion with its disadvantages as set forth above. Itwas a recognition of the inherent difficulties and shortcomings of the noted types of golf course and funeral flags and the need of an improved construction which led to the conception and development of the present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a special type of substantially flat plane spring wire outer edge support for flags, with such outer edge support terminating at and attached to the flag mast.

Another object is to provide a flag wherein same is of a substantially flat plane oval shape to give height and length and yet a reduced area which in turn not only reduces the amount of cloth required, but stabilizes same and reduces the pull on the flag due to air flow past same.

Another object is to provide a flag with a spring steel wire contour supporter which in turn has a coiled spring member in its central portion which forms the outermost free edge of the flag so as to permit the flag to be crushed for storage or the like between times of use and yet which automatically holds the flag taut under conditions of use.

A further object is to provide a special type of funeral arrows.

flag mast in combination with a special form of funeral flag, such mast having an outwardly projecting spring clamp member at its lower end for positively gripping the rain trough of an automobile roof and holding the mast in upright position.

A further object is to provide a special type of funeral flag having low wind flow resistance under conventional use while being positively held in place by means grip ping the rain gutter of the automobile roof, and at the same time being easy to manufacture and sell at a relatively low cost, and further being easier to use than most funeral flags.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends the invention, then, consists of the flag means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but several of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawing:

Figure 1 shows a fragmentary side view of an automobile having a preferred form of the flag and flag standard of the present invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 shows a partially sectioned view with the funeral flag assembly mounted thereon and with the flag itself turned sidewise for ease of understanding the construction involved.

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary view of the outer or free edge of a flag of modified construction having a coiled spring in the hem portion of same.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross section view as taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of the flag. mast as taken at line 55 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 shows a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2 but of modified construction.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be noted that the flag 1 carried on a mast 2, is fastened by means of a clamp 3 to the rain trough 4 of an automobile 5. This assembly, as shown in enlarged detail in Figures 2, and 6,

' utilizes a clamp 3 or 3a of the conventional pinch clamp type having a strong spring 6 or 6a for gripping the rain trough 4 of the conventional automobile roof 7 above the door 8.

The mast 2 of the assembly is preferably made of small-diameter heavy-wall metal tubing for lightness although it may be made of other material such as metal rod which is also very satisfactory. In the construction shown in Figure 2, the lower end 9 of metal mast 2 is bent outward and welded or brazed on the top portion of upper member 11 of the clamp 3. In order to protect the automobile roof 7 from being chafed by mast 9, such mast may be provided with a rubber sleeve 10 cemented or otherwise fastened to mast 2 in the position shown. The upper member 11 of clamp 3 has mounted on its rain trough engaging end a special shaped inverted trough-like member 12, one leg of which engages the upper outer edge of the rain gutter 4 while the inner portion of such member extends into and engages the bottom inner portion of the rain trough. The lower member 13 of clamp 3 preferably has its gripping end portion 14 curved to fit and engage the lower edge of rain'trough 4, with the inner edge of end portion 14 extending substantially into contact with roof 7 as shown in Figure 2.

Flag 1 can be mounted on mast 2 in any conventional manner since all that is required is a stop of one kind or another for the upper and lower edges of the flag at the point of mounting on the mast. To diagrammatically indicate such construction, there is shown upper and lower cotter pins 15 and 16 which pass through suitably located holes (not shown) in the mast, and thus not only hold the flag on "the mast but also facilitate the removal of the flag from the mast whenever same becomes desirable.

Flag 1 is of a special construction in that the body portion 17 of the flag, which normally is of cloth, is provided with a hemmed portion 18 adapted to fit around the mast while the remaining top, bottom and outer free edge portion of the flag is provided with a continuous hem 19 in which there is a wire member 20 with upper and lower looped ends 21 and 22 which encircle and closely but rotatably fit mast 2 between and adjacent upper and lower cotter pins 15 and 16. This wire is preferably made of a highly resilient steel and preferably of piano wire or spring steel wire so that same can be sprung or bent and yet return substantially to original shape.

In order to give substantially maximum visibility of the flag while minimizing the wind drag on same, I prefer to form the flag of a generally oval shape with an end portion of the oval cut away at the point of mounting on the mast. This type of construction not only stabilizes the flag and reduces its wind drag, but makes an exceptionally stable assembly having a long, useful life.

In order to give the wire member 2i, still greater resilience greatly facilitating crushing down in storing between periods of use, this wire member 2% may have a portion at the outer end of the flag cut away and replaced with a tight-Wound small-diameter coil spring 23 as shown in Figure 3. This coil spring allows a great deal of bending and folding of the flag, under conditions of use, without ln urmg same.

A modified form of the assembly, so far as the clip mounting end of same is concerned, is shown in Figure 6. Here the clamp 3a has its forward side pivot members broken away to show the coil springs 6a inside of the clip, and encircling hinge pin 24 of the clamp. In this construction, mast 2a has its lower end portion 9a bent sidewise and welded or brazed in conventional manner to upper member 11a of the clip. The rain trough gripping portlon of upper member 11a is provided with a rounded portion 25 which may be in the form of a piece of round rod, if desired, and which is Welded or brazed on or encased in the forward end of said upper member 11a. Instead of using a rubber sleeve 10 on mast 2 as shown in Figure 2, the clamp 3a can be temporarily fastened in open position in any conventional manner and then the gripping portion of the clamp and a portion of the mast 2a extending from same, can be dipped in a suitable rubber-like plastic composition to form a cushioning coating 26 which is then allowed to set up and suitably harden so that when in final finished form this coating will act the same as a rubber sleeve and protect all parts of the rain trough coming in contact with same from being marred due to engagement of the rain trough by the noted assembly. Cloth or the like can be cemented to the mast and clip jaws and serve in like manner but usually same is not as durable or long lasting as said rubber and rubber-like plastic composition. It is intended that the showing in the drawing be considered to diagrammatically illustrate these various types of protective coatings.

While the drawing shows several improved forms of a funeral flag, it should be noted that by using a suitable size rnas t 2, omitting the rain trough clamping mechanism, and using numbers on the flag, a golf course flag will result and it is intended that the present invention be considered to also cover golf course flag assemblies since the improved flag 1 with its means of mounting on a mast are the same in either case.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel features of a very simplified and efiicient construction have been disclosed for attaining the desired ends in the flag assembly set forth. However, it is to be understood that while the apparatus has been shown and described Wlll'l the mast in substantially upright position, it is not limited to such position since it can be used in other positions. Such terms as upper, lower, upright, outward, underside, et cetera, are therefore to be considered as relative only and not limiting.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the flag and combinations herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A flag assembly, which comprises a mast, a flag body portion, said body portion having a hemmed portion at its edge adjacent said mast and adapted to fit over and be rotatably moved around said mast, a wire means having a ring portion at each end, said wire means between said rings lying in a substantially flat plane, said mast rotatably fitting said ring portions which are spaced apart a substantial distance and adjacent the upper and lower ends of said hemmed portion of said flag body portion through which said mast passes and rotatably fits, the remaining edges of said flag body portion being of hemmed form with the top, bottom, and outer edges of same having said Wire means between said ring end portions enclosed within said hem, and stop means for removably holding said flag body portion and its wire mounting means in prescribed position on said mast while leaving same free to rotate thereon.

2. A flag assembly, which comprises a mast, a flag body portion, said body portion having a hemmed portion at its edge adjacent said mast and adapted to be rotatably moved around said mast, a wire means having a ring portion at each end, said mast rotatably fitting said ring portions which are spaced apart a substantial distance and adjacent the upper and lower ends of said hemmed portion of said flag body portion at said mast, the remaining edges of said flag body portion being of hemmed form with the top, bottom, and outer edges of same having said wire means between said ring end portions enclosed within said hem, and stop means on said mast for removably holding said flag body portion and its wire mounting means in prescribed position, wherein said wire means has a tight wound coil spring as a portion of same at the portion of said wire means opposite to said mast mounting rings, said coil spring portion forming a substantial part of the length of said wire means.

3. A funeral flag assembly which includes a mast, a flag body portion, said body portion having a hemmed portion at one edge adapted to have said mast slidably and rotatably pass therethrough, a resilient wire means having a ring portion at each end, said mast rotatably fitting said ring portions which are at the top and bottom of said body portion at said mast, the top, bottom, and outer end edges of said body portion being of hemmed form with the top, bottom, and outer end portions of said resilient wire means enclosed within said hem, stop means on said mast for removably holding said flag body portion and its resilient wire mounting means in prescribed position, and a pinch clamp means having a long bight and strong spring means, said mast being rigidly anchored to the upper portion of said pinch clamp means so that when the latter is gripped onto the rain trough of an automobile with the upper and lower operating members of the pinch clamp extending outward, said mast will stand in substantially upright position, wherein said resilient wire means has a tight wound coil spring as a portion of same at the portion of said wire means opposite to said mast mounting rings, said coil spring portion forming a substantial part of the length of said resilient wire means.

4. A funeral flag assembly which includes a mast, a flag body portion, said body portion having a hemmed portion at one edge adapted to have said mast slidably and rotatably pass therethrough, a resilient wire means having a ring portion at each end, said mast rotatably fitting said ring portions which are at the top and bottom of said body portion at said mast, the top, bottom, and outer end edges of said body portion being of hemmed form with the top, bottom, and outer end portions of said resilient wire means enclosed within said hem, stop means on said mast for removably holding said flag body portion and its resilient Wire mounting means in prescribed position, and a pinch clamp means having a long bight and strong spring means, said mast being rigidly anchored to the upper portion of said pinch clamp means so that when the latter is gripped onto the rain trough of an automobile with the upper and lower operating members of the pinch clamp extending outward, said mast will stand in substantially upright position, wherein said flag body portion is of substantially oval shape, and said resilient wire means has a tight wound coil spring as a portion of same at the portion of said wire means opposite to said mast mounting rings, said coil spring portion forming a substantial part of the length of said resilient wire means.

5. A funeral flag assembly which includes a mast, a flag body portion, said body portion having a hemmed portion at one edge adapted to have said mast slidably and rotatably pass therethrough, a resilient wire means having a ring portion at each end, said wire means between said rings lying in a substantially flat plane, said mast rotatably fitting said ring portions which are at the top and bottom of said body portion at said mast, the top, bottom, and outer end edges of said body portion being of hemmed form with the top, bottom, and outer end portions of said resilient wire means enclosed within said hem, stop means for removably holding said flag body portion and its resilient Wire mounting means in prescribed position on said mast while leaving same free to rotate thereon, and a pinch clamp means for gripping the rain trough of an automobile roof, said clamp means having a long bight and strong spring means with the lower portion of said pinch clamp fitting the under side of said rain trough and extending to the back face of same to stabilize said mast, said mast being rigidly anchored to the upper portion of said pinch clamp means so that when the latter is gripped onto the rain trough of an automobile with the upper and lower operating members of the pinch clamp extending outward, said mast will stand in substantially upright position, wherein said pinch clamp means is of heavy duty type, said upper portion of said clamp having a member fitting into said rain trough and carrying said mast fixedly anchored thereto in upright position, while the lower portion of said clamp has a portion which closely fits the underside of said rain trough and stabilizes said mast in upright position, said trough contacting portions of said clamp, and the lower portion of said mast being provided with a cushioning material to protect the automobile body and its rain trough from chafing.

6. A funeral flag assembly which includes a mast, a flag body portion, said body portion having a hemmed portion at one edge adapted to have said mast slidably and rotatably pass therethrough, a resilient wire means having a ring portion at each end, said mast rotatably fitting said ring portions which are at the top and bottom of said hemmed portion at one edge of said flag body portion, the remaining edges of said flag body portion being of hemmed form with the top, bottom, and outer edge portions of same having said resilient wire means between said ring end portions enclosed Within said hem, stop means on said mast for removably holding said flag body portion and its resilient Wire mounting means in prescribed but rotatably movable position, said flag body portion being of substantially oval shape, a pinch clamp means having a long bight and strong spring means, said mast being rigidly anchored to the upper portion of said pinch clamp means so that when the latter is gripped onto the rain trough of an automobile with the upper and lower operating members of the pinch clamp extending outward, said mast will stand in substantially upright position, and wherein said automobile contacting portions of said mast and clamp are provided with a cushioning material to protect the automobile body and its rain trough from chafing, wherein said resilient wire means has a tight wound small diameter coil spring as a portion of same at the portion thereof opposite to said mounting rings, said coil spring portion forming a substantial part of the length of said resilient Wire means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,294,032 Bixby Feb. 11, 1919 2,072,573 Vigliotti Mar. 2, 1937 2,290,645 Lange July 21, 1942 2,527,357 Donahey Oct. 24, 1950 

